Cary man found with 21 pounds of marijuana pleads guilty

By NORTHWEST HERALD

Nov. 10, 2017

Caption

Mark J. Priester, 39, Cary is charged with possession of a controlled substance, manufacturing and delivering marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm without a firearm owner's identification card and possession of ammunition without a FOID card.

CARY – A Cary man who police said had about 21 pounds of marijuana pleaded guilty to possession Thursday.

Mark J. Priester, 39, of the first block of West Franke Avenue, entered a guilty plea to Judge James Cowlin and was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to a news release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Police arrested Priester on Nov. 3 and searched his residence in Cary on March 31, according to the news release.

He also was accused by police of being in possession of a number of firearms despite having his firearm owner’s identification card previously revoked, court records show.

Police said he had two shotguns, a pistol and more than 1 ounce of psychedelic mushrooms, along with the marijuana.

Priester was charged with possession of a controlled substance, manufacturing and delivering marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm without a FOID card and possession of ammunition without a FOID card.

Police said Priester had more than 1 ounce of psychedelic mushrooms, less than an ounce of cocaine, more than 21 pounds of marijuana and an assortment of drug paraphernalia in his possession March 31, according to court documents.

Priester also was charged with having ammunition, a 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistol, and a 16- and 20-gauge shotgun without a valid FOID card.

He only was sentenced for possession of marijuana pursuant to a plea deal made, and all other charges against him were dropped, Assistant State’s Attorney John Gibbons said.

This case was investigated by members of the Illinois State Police Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group and prosecuted by Robert Ladd of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.